This was agreed at a meeting between Prime Minister Ivo Sanader and leaders of parliamentary parties in Zagreb on Wednesday.
"Drobnjak is the man on whom we have reached a consensus," Sanader told reporters after the meeting.
Sanader described Drobnjak as a great professional, one of the best Croatian ambassadors and a patriot. Drobnjak has an excellent knowledge of European institutions, he headed Croatia's mission at the EU and participated in the talks on stabilisation and association with the EU, Sanader added.
The PM also commended the head of the negotiating team, Grabar Kitarovic, who he said had done an excellent job of carrying out preparations for the talks with the EU.
Sanader and the leaders of parliamentary parties also agreed on a working group which is to adjust the text of a declaration on association with the EU which the parliament is expected to adopt at a session in January.
By that time, members of the working group - Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic, Neven Mimica, Josip Vresk, Miroslav Rozic, Jozo Rados and Milorad Pupovac - are expected to harmonise different versions of the declaration as drafted by political parties.
Other topics which were to be discussed today, including the names of the heads of 12 negotiating teams, will be discussed after the second round of presidential elections, on January 18.
This decision was made so as not to burden the ongoing election campaign, Sanader and Social Democrat leader Ivica Racan said.
A three-member Croatian delegation will meet European Enlargement Commissioner Oli Rehn on January 16 and 17, after which participants in the third round of talks on Croatia's admission to the EU will have more information at their disposal, Sanader added.
Sanader and Racan said they were satisfied with today's meeting, adding that all participants, regardless of different political positions, had demonstrated an awareness of the historic importance of Croatia's integration with the EU.